NORTH MYRTLE BEACH, SC – Connor Bekefi (Toms River, NJ/Toms River North) and Ben Ortwein (Easton, PA/Notre Dame) led the Rider University men's golf team Tuesday at the Spring-opening Bash at the Beach, hosted by Appalachian State Monday and Tuesday at The Surf Golf and Beach Club. Competing as an individual, Bekefi shot one-over 72 Tuesday to finish the tournament at a team-best 216 (+3, 25^th) for the tournament. Ortwein finished his tournament with a one-under 70 Tuesday, to wrap up the tournament at 218, good for five-over and a tie for 31^st.

Louie Giovacchini (Windermere, FL/Windermere) also shot a one-under 70 Tuesday to wrap up his tournament at 220 (+7), tied with Zander Gibson (Concord, OH/Notre Dame Cathedral Latin), who shot even-par 71 Tuesday. After shooting even par through two rounds, Jack Urban (Upper St. Clair, PA/Upper St. Clair) faltered with a 77 Tuesday, but still finished a spot and a shot ahead of Giovacchini and Gibson at 219 (+6), good for 35^th. Rick van der Nat (Noordwijk, The Netherlands/Visser 't Hooft) rounded out the Broncs' competitors with a 76 (+5) Tuesday and a 233 (+20) for the tournament.

QUOTES & NOTES
"Bounced back with a good one today. Proud of the way that these guys fight. Tons of positives to take and some stuff that needs cleaning up as we ramp things up for MAAC's." – Rider Head Coach Jason Barry

- Oral Roberts earned the team title at 843 (-9), shooting 281 in all three rounds.
- Connecticut was the only other team to finish the tournament below par at 849 (-3).
- Utah Valley's Caden Weber won medalist honors, shooting eight-under 205 for the three-round tournament.
- The Broncs were the only MAAC team in competition. 
- The Broncs' 46 birdies were fifth-most for the tournament.
- Rider also got an eagle from Giovacchini on the Par 4, 317-yard 11^th hold Tuesday.  
- Ortwein posted the second-best score on the Par 3's for the tournament at -1.
- Bekefi's -5 on the Par 5's was the third-lowest score for the tournament.

UP NEXT
The Broncs return to action Saturday, Mar. 25, when they travel to Berlin, MD, for the Battle at Rum Pointe, hosted by Iona at Rum Pointe Seaside Links.